Buying, renovating and moving into my new (old) house has ultimately been one of the most exciting times in the history of forever. But it's also been one of the most overwhelming: though obviously fun, the millions of design decisions that come along with a new home have me worried that I might be in over my head.
What do I know, really? I like pretty interiors and live to see the incredible work that my job gives me access too, but this daily exposure to design brilliance can put a lot of pressure on a lowly decor-junkie like me!
And so, practical gal that I am, there are one of two things that I do when I come face to face with a design dilemma:
A) Ask Elana. Not kidding. How lucky am I to have this stylish lady sitting a stones' throw away all day, every day?
B) Take my questions straight to the experts and beg them for free advice. I have learned that if you ask, you shall usually receive in spades.
When faced with the question of how to dress the large bay window in my master bedroom, I opted for option B. Not because Elana wouldn't have rocked it out, but because I (thought I) already knew what I wanted: custom fit roman blinds. A clean, modern, tidy look to show off our gorgeous new trim work and not distract the eye with fussy fabric and lots of hardware.
Basically I wanted the exact opposite of this:
The bay window in my master bedroom as it looked the day we bought the house.
My husband and agent take in the view while trying to ignore the horrors of the existing window coverings.
I also really wanted to move beyond this look here:
We lived with this duvet cover as our curtain for two months before we got our new blinds!
I enlisted my favourite online fabric and custom sewing source Tonic Living to help me select a fabric and make me some custom blinds, but not before I accosted owner and operator Janine Morrison with a few questions about recent trends and common solutions for dressing bay windows. Here's what she had to say, along with a few photos of my finished blinds:
The finished blinds on the bay window in my master bedroom. See how they highlight that lovely new trim?
Mia: What is the most commonly asked question when clients are looking for coverings for bay windows?
Janine: Whether we recommend roman blinds vs. panels or drapes. Also if they should treat the whole window as one, or treat each window pane as a separate window.
M: Do you have a personal favourite that you like to recommend – or does it always depend on the room?
J: It does depend, but often treating a bay window individually with romans is the smartest look and least cumbersome. Hanging some stationary panels on the sides can really help soften the room and add more dimension and warmth.
Here they are with the blinds half closed, couldn't fully close them or the picture was too dark!
M: If using drapes as a treatment for bay windows, what do you do for hardware? One rod across the entire bay, or separate rods for each window? Any other way to do it?
J: For walls that are angled it’s best to mount one
rod that bends into the space, turning each corner. This gives you flexibility
on where you want the panels to go (ie/ sides, in between each pane, etc).
If the wall is flat or there is a bulkhead above the space then you can
span a single straight rod across the top. Usually going with the angled rod
gives best desired look though. Also, if you have a window bench below
then you’ll only want dummy or stationary panels on either side of the window.
M: What about using a valance to hide the rods – on trend or not?
J: Valances have made somewhat of a comeback recently however they need to be executed well in order to not look awkward (like an afterthought) or outdated. The more streamlined the better, ie. box pleat or flat panel with hooks on a rod.
Closer look at the fabric I selected (with help from Janine); Soft Scrolls, Charcoal by Dwell Studio; carpentry and trim by Craftsman Modern Renovations
M: When choosing fabric for a focal point window, do you have a preference -- print vs. plain?
J: Personally I have white linen blinds on a lot of my own windows but the drapes on that same window are usually the focal point with something more colorful and bold, which I feel is the perfect compromise. Drapes you can switch out with the seasons or mood more easily than romans. If the room has a lot going on already with texture and patterns I might suggest that the drapes' pattern choice or color palette be a little more subtle or suggest a solid. It also depends on the room, I’m more inclined to suggest softer, more subtle colors for the bedroom as I like a quiet room whereas for a kitchen or living room I prefer something a bit more lively.
My interview with Janine did more than just provide some great advice for you readers, it also left me wondering if I've made the right choice in my own bedroom. Luckily for me, I've got you lot! So help me out, will ya?
Should I add stationary drapes to my bay window in order to add some softness, dimension and texture?
Check back and see what I decide in an upcoming post featuring my finished bedroom.
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